Results tagged ‘ Brad Bergesen ’

The Yankees are in town and Orioles right-hander Kevin Millwood will look for his first win tonight against the defending World Champions.

*In case you missed it, the Orioles made a roster move earlier today, purchasing the contract of Alfredo Simon.*Brian Roberts saw Dr. Lee Riley yesterday and there is no news. He’s not ready to start doing any baseball stuff, and although he was at Camden Yards on Tuesday, did not make himself available to the media.*Garrett Atkins was not in the Orioles lineup for the third consecutive game, and to his credit he is saying all the right things. He will get the start against lefty CC Sabathia tomorrow (since Rhyne Hughes is a left-handed hitter, Atkins is a better matchup), but this is an interesting situation to watch. Trembley said whether the team platoons or whether one guys gets the bulk of first base duties has to do with how they perform at the plate.*Koji Uehara is scheduled to throw an inning for Double-A Bowie tonight as the first outing of his rehab assignment.*It’s looking increasingly likely that Brad Bergesen will make Saturday’s start against the Red Sox. He’s the leadoff candidate for the spot and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail confirmed nothing has changed. The club could decide to designate a reliever to make room for Bergesen. For more on Bergesen’s Triple-A start, I talked to him Sunday night and that story is up here.

Brad Bergesen made his first start for Triple-A Norfolk Sunday afternoon, and allowed two runs on seven hits over seven innings. He tossed 56 of his 81 pitches for strikes, fanning four, and didn’t issue a walk in Norfolk’s 7-2 win over Charlotte.

Bergesen’s sinker would appear to be on track given that he had 14 ground outs and only two fly outs. The Orioles are hoping Bergesen can get on his stuff back in time to make Saturday’s scheduled start in Baltimore. Was that enough?

“I saw a handful of sinkers today that I hadn’t seen since July,” Bergesen said in a phone interview. “And there were still ones that were flat that I got away with here.”

Does he think it’s all fixed?

“I don’t know, its always tough, if you had a good outing down here would that transfer to an OK outing up there?” Bergesen said. “Would it be just as good?”

“I felt good, I’ve been working with [Norfolk pitch coach Mike] Griffin for the last four days and I’ve had some good chats with him and had some good bullpen sessions with him. I was with him in ’08 so I really trust in everything he has to tell me and I really take his opinions into consideration.”

Bergesen said he hasn’t heard anything from the Orioles pertaining to Saturday’s start and didn’t want to get his hopes up. Following Sunday’s win in Boston, pitching coach Rick Kranitz went into manager Dave Trembley’s office where Bergesen’s start was likely discussed.

There’s no official word, but I’ll have more details and analysis from Trembley and Kranitz up on Orioles.com for Monday’s off day. If Bergesen doesn’t get the nod it’ll be either relievers Jason Berken or Mark Hendrickson or a call-up for Jake Arrieta, who has been lights out in Triple-A.

Well if they Orioles had tied the game last night, Jason Berken would have been in the game. Manager Dave Trembely had Berken warming up in the ninth inning in case that scenario became a reality, but the Orioles fell just short of a full comeback.

Berken who last pitched Monday in Seattle, is one of the most rested arms in the Orioles beleaguered bullpen. Prior to Monday, his last outing was April 14. But his minimal usage has been more of a result of the team’s good starting pitching, rather than Berken’s performance.

In his first season in the long relief role, Berken has allowed just two earned runs in four games, sporting a 1.50 ERA.

“I think coming to the field every day thinking I have a chance to pitch is a good thing for me,” Berken said. “Overall, I feel like it’s been good [in the bullpen].

“One thing I’ve noticed, and Mark [Hendrickson] has talked to me about it, when I’m getting ready as a starter I tend to analyze my pitches a little more because I have more time to think about it. When I’m in the ‘pen, It’s kind of you are just trying to get loose you don’t really analyze your pitches or your location more or less, you are just trying to get loose and get in there.”

Berken’s longest outing has been a five-inning stint following Brad Bergesen’s start on April 14 against Tampa Bay. He estimated he’s stretched out about to about 75 pitches, and if Bergesen fails to get back on track, Berken is a candidate to make a spot start May 1.

Pitching coach Rick Kranitz said Berken and Hendrickson are both options to get Saturday’s start, although the team would prefer to have Bergesen get on track and leave the pair of long men in the ‘pen. Hendrickson and Berken have been the Orioles most consistent relievers and Trembley is hesitant to tinker with that.

“My choice has always been if you have someone who is doing well in an area, leave him alone, leave him there, don’t put him in another spot where you are unsure what he’ll do,” Trembley said. But if the need arises and [Berken] would have to do it I am sure he would give you what he has, he’s that kind of guy. I would prefer to leave him where he is.”

A converted starter who pitched several times in relief this spring, Berekn made the Opening Day roster as the team’s second long man, and has said all along that he’s happy to fill any role.

Greetings from Fenway’s finale,
where the Orioles look to salvage a game and snap a five-game skid in the
process. This will be Tim Wakefield’s last start before moving to the bullpen
to clear a spot for Dice-K (who has been on the DL with a neck strain). David
Hernandez will oppose Wakefield, and like every Orioles starter not named Brian
Matusz, he’s hoping to get his first win.

*Nolan Reimold is batting leadoff for the first time in his Major
League career. “Now, I just need to bat 9th and I’m all set,”
Reimold said. Yes, the lineup’s been shuffled that much lately. A patient hitter by nature, Reimold said he
will steal if the position presents itself, pointing out his one stolen base
this spring.

*Rhyne Hughes is starting again today after an impressive two-hit
Major League debut. Manager Dave Trembleynoted that Hughes didn’t seem overwhelmed by the moment Saturday night and when
I talked to him briefly this morning he had the same ear-to-ear grin he’s been sporting
since

*For what Garrett Atkins thinks
about being bench for Hughes, check out my story yesterday. This is an
interesting situation to keep an eye on…

*Down in Triple-A Brad Bergesen will try to get back on
track and make his first start for Norfolk. The Orioles are hoping he can get his
confidence back, refind his sinker and make that May 1 start. If not, they
could use either long men Jason Berken
or Mark Hendrickson to make a spot
start, or call up a guy like Jake Arrieta. That scenario isn’t likely since
they don’t really want to mess with Arrieta’s development, but it’s not something
I would rule out, either.

After an eventful win last night, welcome to the beginning of baseball at Camden Yards. In my mad dash to get here from my Southwest flight this morning, I forgot the USB cord for my camera. So, I apologize for that. And you will have pictures later on. For now, I give you Trembley:

“We’ve
been looking forward to this day for a long time, and I’m sure it will be an
exciting day for all of us,” manager Dave Trembley said. ” It’s a day that you anticipate. I think the more
you get an opportunity you do this, you understand the amount of work and
effort and energy that goes into making something like this possible.”

*Trembley talked a little pregame about starter Brad Bergesen deserving to get the nod in today’s home opener. In case you missed it, I wrote a feature on Bergesen on the site today, you can read that here.

*Felix Pie will start one of these three games. He’s doing baseball-related activities today and is progressing well.

*Closer Mike Gonzalez is available, but Trembley would like to stay away from using lefty specialist Will Ohman, who has appeared in the last three games. Look for Mark Hendrickson instead.

*As expected B-Rob is in the lineup for a 4th straight game. What a champ. Here’s hoping he builds on last night’s two hits.

Nolan Reimold’s
in the lineup, because Felix Pie has a little rotator cuff strain suffered when he threw to home in Tuesday’s loss. Pie stayed in the game, but said he felt a sharp pain in his arm, which is why he jumped up in the air following the throw. I thought he was angry the throw bounced over catcher Matt Wieters’ shoulder. Guess not.

Pie doesn’t know how long he will be out but said he felt better already this morning compared to last night.

Meanwhile Reimold will get the start a day earlier than expected. He told me he’s not worried about running on the Rays turf, since he did it last season when his Achilles was bothering him.

*Also, in case you missed it, I talked to Robert Andino about clearing waiversthis afternoon.President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said Andino will get the bulk of playing time at shortstop in Triple-A Norfolk.

*Mike Gonzalez was the first guy in Dave Trembley’s office this morning and told the Orioles manager he wants the ball tonight. We’ll see what happens. Close friend Rafael Soriano (who got the win for the Rays) texted Gonzalez words of encouragement following an ugly blown save.

*Brad Bergesen and David Hernandez Friday and Saturday’s starters in Baltimore, boarded a 6 p.m. flight earlier tonight to go back to Birdland. They’ll get a chance to settle in and prep for their starts. Hernandez threw a bullpen yesterday and told me he’s pretty excited.

*New Oriole Julio Lugo was coloring in the white parts of his cleats with an orange permanent marker pregame. He’s still waiting to get his Orioles spikes, but this way he fits in.

Brad Bergesen just finished what
can most certainly be called his worst outing this spring. Bergesen allowed six
earned runs on five hits and four walks over five innings. In the four starts
prior, he had yielded a combined six earned runs with five walks.

After a four-run fourth inning,
Bergesen went on to retire seven of the next eight batters he faced, before
surrendering the second of three homers. He raised his ERA over a run, to 5.59,
in the 93-pitch outing.

Bergesen, who is slotted to be
the team’s fourth starter, is expected to start the O’s home opener at Camden Yards.

Brad Bergesen
looked the best he’s looked all spring, and afterwards agreed that Thursday’s
outing was superior in nearly every way to his prior three.

“I felt that much more like myself today and I just need to
continue to build on it,” Bergesen said.

After retiring the first seven straight
batters, Bergesen pitched his
way out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning, which was mostly a result of
Garrett Atkins’ dropped foul pop-up.

Facing a lineup predominantly of
Yankee regulars, Bergesen exited with two outs in the sixth inning, allowing
three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. The right-hander held sluggers
Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira 0-for-4 with a walk and fanned A-Rod in his
first two plate appearances.

All in all, an impressive outing for
Bergesen. He looked the best he’s looked all spring and did it against the
defending World Champions. He tossed 76 pitches and managed to stay on
track despite a long delay in between innings in the fourth, when home plate
ump John Hirschbeck left the game.

“Today was the best I’ve felt,” Bergesen said. “Going up against the Yankees and being able
to go 5 2/3 helped out, builds the confidence and I just got to finish up the next
couple weeks and get ready [for the season.]”

Bergesen wasn’t completely satisfied with his outing,
mentioning a few bad decisions on 0-2 counts in the fifth inning.

” I know I keep saying it, but there’s still a couple things
I need to start doing to feel back to where I was before the leg injury, before
the arm injury,” Bergesen said. “But given the circumstances, yes, this is
exactly where I’d like to be at this point.”

Bergesen had allowed two runs in each of his previous three starts. With Thursday’s solid effort, his ERA is now 3.77 through 14 1/3 innings. He didn’t need to have this start, but it’s certainly an outing that will help his confidence going forward as Opening Day nears.

After taking a liner off his shin to end his season last July, Bergesen was slowed this spring by a strained right shoulder capsule suffered while filming a team commercial in December.

They’re pitching against
different teams in different cities but I thought they could share a blog post.

Chris Tillman was almost perfect through three innings in Fort Myers.
Boston’s
Adrian
Beltre reached on a wild pitch after swinging at strike three to lead off the
third inning. I’m hearing that the fourth inning was his only real bad
frame, as Dustin Pedroia doubled down the left field line on the eighth pitch
of the at-bat, and Kevin Youkilis homered to left.

Tillman lasted five innings,
throwing 70 pitches and allowed just those two hits and two runs. Not a bad outing
at all, considering the Red Sox starter-heavy lineup.

Boston’s manager Terry
Francona liked what he saw from the 21-year-old Tillman.

“Good, real good. They made some moves a couple
of years ago. The young kids weren’t ready to show it at the big-league level
but now, unfortunately, some of those kids are starting to mature and we’re
going to see them in the big leagues,” Francona said. “They
have a chance to be pretty good.”

Meanwhile, Brad Bergesen allowed two runs on three hits
over 4 2/3 innings against the Pirates. Bergesen had a nice outing after the
first, retiring nine of the last 10 batters he faced and picking up four
strikeouts. I didn’t track his pitches but it figures to be under 70, since
Bergesen has had one less outing than the rest of the regular starters.

Since I’m in Sarasota, I got to talk to Bergesen, who said pitching
coach Rick Kranitz told him after the first inning to slow things down a bit.

“When I slow myself down, I get in a rhythm and I kind
of free my arm up. Instead of trying to force it, I let my pitches happen on
their own and trust the pitches and trust the delivery,” Bergesen said.

“For me, being
able to get out there and make that adjustment, it’s huge. I think that was the
biggest thing to get me over the hump and get me back to my old self, getting
back to that tempo and being able to make adjustments like that.”

Following his second
Spring Training start, Brad Bergesen acknowledged he isn’t quite where
he needs to be, but he’s getting closer with each successive outing.

Bergesen tossed 2 2/3 innings Monday afternoon, holding the
Red Sox to two runs -both courtesy of David Ortiz’s homer – on five hits. He
also had a walk and a strikeout and reported to be pain-free, both in his right
shoulder and his left shin.

After his season was cut short when he was struck with a
line drive on July 30 of last year, Bergesen has been slowed this spring by a
strained right shoulder capsule suffered while filming a team commercial in
December.

He allowed two runs on three hits over 1 1/3 innings in his
debut Wednesday night, and acknowledged that it’s taking some time to get completely
in sync back on the mound.

“[Getting that feeling back] that’s a big part of it,”
Bergesen said. “But I did have a game plan going into [Monday’s start]. I wanted
to try to lower the strike zone, throw as many strikes as a I could, get ahead
of guys. And I thought I did a better job of that today. But still, too many
hitters I am falling behind.”

Bergesen tossed 27 of his 41 pitches for strikes and said
the slider he hung to Ortiz was the worst pitch he threw all afternoon. The Red
Sox slugger was 1-for-19 prior to that.

Cla Meredith, who hasn’t allowed a guy on base this spring,
got the final out of the third inning, with Chris Tillman opening the fourth.
Meredith walked by as the reporters were interviewing Bergesen and joked that
he’d be waiting at his locker should the media need to talk about his lengthy
performance. He only needed one pitch to retired Adrian Beltre on a groundout to second.

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